Bowers & Pitsea U15 Whites Fall To FC Redwing Y U15 Falcons At Barleylands

Bowers & Pitsea U15 Whites travelled to FC Redwing Barleylands P4 on 16 November 2025 for an 11:30am kick-off in a league away fixture against FC Redwing Y U15 Falcons. The match lasted 80 minutes plus added time and ended in a 4-2 defeat for the Whites. Referee Joe Morrell oversaw the contest in front of a crowd of 30 spectators.

Bowers & Pitsea lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, deploying three defenders at the back with Rhys Hughes on the right, Marcus Stanbury centrally, and Sebastian Cenciu on the left. The midfield quartet consisted of Cory Jennings on the right flank, Oliver Norton and Liam Stroud centrally, and Luca Cepoi on the left. Up front, the attacking trio featured Benjamine Smith on the right, Marvellous Nbubueze as the central striker, and Mattie Bristow on the left. Stanley Martin-Gardener guarded the goal. The substitutes available were Oliver Wakeling and James Holgate.

The match began with an early setback for Bowers & Pitsea as FC Redwing Y U15 Falcons opened the scoring in the third minute. A well-struck effort from outside the box, taken with the right foot, found the net beyond Martin-Gardener’s reach. The Whites were still settling when disaster struck again at the 13th minute, this time following a defensive mistake that allowed the Falcons to double their lead.

Bowers & Pitsea’s troubles were compounded at the 11th minute when Liam Stroud was forced off injured, making way for Oliver Wakeling. Despite the early disruption, the Whites attempted to regain composure but were dealt a further blow in the 26th minute when left forward Mattie Bristow also succumbed to injury and was replaced by James Holgate.

The Falcons capitalised on another defensive lapse at the 32nd minute, extending their advantage to 3-0. The Whites showed resilience and just before half-time, at the 40th minute, Oliver Wakeling was substituted off for the returning Mattie Bristow. The first half concluded with FC Redwing firmly in control.

After the interval, Bowers & Pitsea found a spark when Oliver Norton converted a penalty in the 56th minute, slotting the ball confidently with his right foot to reduce the deficit. However, the Falcons responded swiftly, exploiting yet another defensive error to restore their three-goal cushion in the 63rd minute.

Bowers & Pitsea made another change at the 65th minute, with Oliver Wakeling returning to the field in place of Luca Cepoi. The Whites pressed forward and were rewarded in the 77th minute when Marvellous Nbubueze scored from close range following a precise cross from Benjamine Smith on the right. This goal brought the score to 4-2 and reignited hope for a comeback.

Despite their efforts in the closing stages, Bowers & Pitsea were unable to find a third goal, and the match ended with FC Redwing Y U15 Falcons victorious. Cory Jennings and Benjamine Smith were standout performers for the Whites, both earning player of the match honours for their contributions on the right side of the pitch.

Ultimately, defensive frailties and early injuries hampered Bowers & Pitsea’s chances, allowing FC Redwing to capitalise and secure a well-earned win on home soil.